I was in the kitchen of my apartment listening to the radio. One of my favorite songs was interrupted by the annoying beeps preceding the "always important" announcements. I glared at the radio as I continued chopping onions.

Attention all residents of Lewen County: the escaped convict Marion Thorne has been spotted heading east near Rockburn. All residents are advised to lock their doors and windows and remain inside.

The message repeated itself, but I tuned it out. Rockburn was far east side of the county while I was safe on the far southwest side. I should be safe from any nut that decided to escape from jail. I continued making my food. It had been almost a week since I had been able to actually make my own food. I had been too busy with work and my job. But now I had a whole two weeks off! I was ecstatic.

I had it all planned. I was going to relax. Finally take a few trips to the library and rare bookstores around town. Maybe even go on some nice outdoor expedition. For the next two weeks: the world was mine.

I sautéed the onions with ground beef and made myself a burrito with refried beans, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, salsa, and sour cream. I sat with my meal in the living room watching TV. Today's show of choice: Monk. I love that show. It's so fun and it's a great way to relax.

A door came at the door making me frown. Who was coming around my place at eight o'clock at night? I wasn't expecting anyone that was for sure. I went to the door annoyed and opened it, not taking off the chain. The man at my door was tall and broad with dark hair and piercing green eyes. "Can I help you?" I asked annoyed.

"Can I use your phone?" he asked. "My car broke down outside, I don't own a cell phone, and I need to call someone."

I sighed. "Yeah, just a sec." I closed the door so I could unhook the chain and opened the door to let the guy in.

"Thanks," he smiled as I pointed to where my phone lay on the divider between the kitchen and the living room.

I went back to watching Monk, and succeed at blocking out the conversation of the man with the broken car. I had almost forgotten about him until he turned off my TV. "Hey!" I yelled. "What the hell did you do that for?"

"You don't need the TV on anymore," he assured me.

"Who do you think you are? I want you out of my house now!" I snapped angrily.

"What you want and what's going to happen are two different things," the man told me pulling out a gun and pointing it at me. I stared at the thing wide eyed and trembling. Maybe letting a stranger in my house (even if I was trying to be nice) was a bad idea after all. The man smiled. "Now, these are the rules. You're going to do exactly what I say or I will kill you." I think I remember nodding numbly. I just didn't want to die. "Got any duct tape?" The man asked.

"Y-yes," I stammered.

"Well, get it," he ordered. I moved slowly to the computer desk and took the duct tape out from the first drawer. "Now, grab one of these chairs and choose a room." He ordered. What else could I do? I grabbed one of the two four legged chairs I owned and walked back to my study. "Sit," he ordered. I sat down and he took the tape from my limp hands. He put the gun on my desk and took one of my hands and roughly pressed it to the arm of the chair. He taped my wrist to the arm and did the same with the other. I started coming to my sense and tried to struggle, even then knowing that there was nothing I could really do.

"Let me go!" I yelled.

He backhanded me, losing his temper for the first time. "Shut up," he growled. Then he taped my legs to the legs of the chair. "And since I can't trust you not to scream," he growled. He wrapped the tape around my mouth over and over again tightly so that I could barely make a sound. "Now sit there like a good girl and be quiet." He growled leaving the room. I waited until I heard him start talking on the phone again before I started crying.

Marion Thorne was not happy at this newest turn of events. He had escaped prison so he could be free to do what he did best. Instead, he had to deal with the petty excuses that Seth was throwing at him. Now, to top it all off, he had a hostage to deal with. At least she hadn't put up too much of a struggle. Or maybe it was a bad thing. He hadn't killed anyone for seven years, and murder isn't the kind of addiction that fades easily or quickly.

Maybe he would go back to the girl after he called Seth back and kill her. No, he couldn't do that. He didn't know how long he would have to stay here and rotting bodies tend to draw attention. Marion plopped down on the dark blue couch and hit redial on the phone. "Everything under control?" Seth asked picking up the call on the second ring.

"I wouldn't be calling if it wasn't would I Seth," Marion growled.

"Sorry man, just have to make sure you known. I'm at risk here. According to the cops you're a bad guy. According to Plymouth, you're a dead man."

Marion laughed. "He's still pissed I killed his cousin? Oh well, maybe I'll send Plymouth to join his cousin. All I know is that I need to get out of here and start killing again. This is driving me crazy!"

"Yeah, I know man. It's just a few more days. How about this? I'll bring someone over to where you're staying and you can have some fun. I'll even bury the body for you."

Marion smiled. "And that's why I let you live Seth. When do you plan on dropping by?"

"Let's say about two hours. What's your address?"

Marion told him.

"You still like your woman blonde?" Seth asked.

Marion smiled. "No, I want a more natural color tonight. How about brown?" He asked thinking of the girl tied up in her study.

"Alright man, I'll see you in two hours."

"Don't be late."

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